Need a new rifle for Horseback Camping???

P

Peter M. Eick

New member
I was asked to help out a co-worker get a rifle for horseback camping in the lower 48. She was told she should get a 30/30 winchester with open sights. She is small, 5' 3", 120 lbs (max) and NOT a rifle shooter by any stretch. She recently had a bit of some run-ins with the 2 legged varmits and a small black bear while on a 10 day trip and her guide "took care of the problem" but suggested she get a 30/30.

I could see a short barrel 30/30 md 94 with a peep sight so it would fit in the scabard on her horse, but I figured I would ask the experts for advice.

What do you all think and recommend?
 
A lever action 30-30 seems like sound advise to me.

A classic solutiuon to a classic problem.
 
If the recoil from the 30/30 is to much you may even consider a lever action Winchester 94 or Marlin 336 in 44magnum or 357 magnum. She may then be more likely to practice with it, become competent and then run off the 2 legged varmints herself ;)
 
A 16" .30-30 carbine would be perfect. I have a '94 in .44 mag w/the 16" barrel (same overall size, or nearly so). It's less than 6 lb., has a length of pull of about 13" (short), and is so short overall it doesn't even reach the upper rack part in my safe.

Apart from the Ashley sights, the only other mod it needs is a thin rubber butt pad - not for recoil, but rather for "traction".

I'd spend the extra money and get one of their nicer models, mainly because she'll get sling swivels, and a better front sight. My sight is a cheesy one-piece dovetailed directly into the barrel (it's good enough for my use, the only horses involved being the ones made from 55-gallon drums at cowboy action shoots ;) ).

I'd guess recoil from the .44 and .30-30 are about the same in the same rifle; the numbers are close.
 
how about a Marlin 1894P? The .44 mag cartridge is adequate for black bear, and it's short in length, light in weight and light recoiling thanks in part to the porting. You have lots of ammo options, from .44 specials to hot .44 mags, 200 to 300 grains in lead, jacketed and hard cast.
 
Okay somebody has to say it.

I just had to add that if it were me I would just pack an AR15 or mini14 in 223 with 20 rnd mag so as to not stick out to much. The look on the 2 legged varmints would be great!! :D and the recoil would be a non-issue. Black bears wouldn't like being hit 4 or 5 times either. This is indeed an option as i believe you reside in the Republic of Texas.
 
If you shot a large black bear 4 or 5 times with a 5.56 you would most likely just p*ss it off. The 30/30 would make a good choice, but I think a .44 would be better.
 
As accuracy is not critical but size and dependability probably are; I go with either a lever 30-30 or an AK style in 7.62 x 39 which would give suitable accuracy, dependability and suitable penetration. Also, IF her difficulty is the two legged kind there is a certain "something" about a woman with an AK that just might be a little more alarming than one with a 30-30. The 30-30 ammo is available everywhere but the 7.62 x 39 is of couse much cheaper and thus she'd likely practice more.

I just got an AK74 for my girlfriend and she really likes it because it's so CUTE and the size is much to her liking compared to the 30-30. She also likes the big mag option! I plan to let her try an AK soon but since accuracy is more important to us, the AK is not our choice where the far more accurate AK74 is.
 
Good point Freeride. If a saddle bag is important then it's a custom job, hanging rifle by the strap or more likely back to the 30-30 which is of course an excellent choice.
 
Thanks for the insights. I had not considered a 357/44 mag 94 series. I will start grazing the racks and see if I can find a nice used one over the next few months.
 
I concur that a lever action carbine is an excellent solution to this classic problem.

Someone PLEASE tell me what advantage a .357 or a .44 lever action would have over a .30/30? With 150g loads, a .30/30 gives very managable recoil, but far greater killing power over a wider variety of distances than the pistol caliber carbines. If recoil is too much of an issue, then by all means, put a rubber recoil pad on the butt of it. From field positions (NOT from the bench!) and especially under stress, the recoil will never be noticed.

I also believe that a good receiver rear ghost ring sight is far easier to use than the factory open sights, creating a single frame of reference (the front sight) to aim with, along with a far longer sight radius for increased accuracy. Most lever actions these days come drilled and tapped already for receiver peep sights, and the better models are actually more sturdy than the factory open sights.
 
About the only advantage I can think of for the pistol calibers is greater availability of low powered loads, and they are shorter, resulting in greater mag capacity.

Disadvantages? Not as flat shooting as 30-30. My mod 94s function much more smoothly with 30-30 length cartridges than with 44 mag. With full velocity loadings I feel much more recoil from my mod 94 44 mag/240 gr than from my mod 94 30-30/170 gr, 44 is a sharper punch than the 30-30.

30-30, 44 mag or 357 mag lever action carbines sound good for your application. I would recommend the 30-30 though.
 
Yes, the advantage of the pistol calibers is flexibility. You can shoot .38 spec or .44 spec for practice, and still have access to some pretty hot loads for business.

I would think that a .44 and .30-30 would be similar in killing power out to 100 yards. Then .30-30 would have a definite advantage out to 150 yards.

But that is just my uneducated opinion.
 
5'2" 120lbs?

Perhaps the .357 Mag cartridge.

It sounds like she plans on very little useage, just protection.

Maybe a Rem. 870 shotgun?
 
You might consider the Ruger Mini-30 Ranch carbine. Same numbers as the .30-30, felt recoil is a little less, already got the "peep" sight, 5 rds. easily reloadable, better punch out at 100 - 150 yds. than a .44 or .357. A bigger "hole" than the .223 if bear is a problem. Plus there's no shucking the lever if excited allowing you to keep sights on target.

But there is just that certain "rightness" about a Win/Marlin .30-30 saddle ring carbine in a scabbard when on horseback or out in the boonies.

Adios Qweeksdraw
 
Peter,
Since you are in Houston, check out Carter's Country and Academy. Academy sells 30-30 Rem 150gr for $6.99 a box!
Both carry a good selection of long guns. I'd go with the 30-30
myself.
 
My suggestions for you:
Tell her to sleep on the ground, not sitting on the horse. Take her to the range, find someone with a .30-30, and trade him a box of ammo for letting her shoot it a few times. Then she can see if it is just right, or if she wants less recoil (.357), or a handgun.

How many of us can fire a rifle (2 hands) with the muzzle near our horse's ear all while staying atop the spooked horse?
 
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